Decks have been cleared for the commissioning of the Kochi metro project in the 13-km Aluva-Palarivattom corridor with Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL) seeking a convenient date from Prime Minister Narendra Modi in May end, to invite him to launch the first metro in Kerala.

"A letter in this regard has been sent to the Prime Minister's Office from the Chief Minister's Office," official sources said.

It also ends months of uncertainty about commissioning the system of mass rapid transport in the State, since the KMRL and the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, the project implementing agency, were on different pages about the issue. While the DMRC was all for opening the corridor soon after the inspection by the Commissioner for Metro Rail Safety (CMRS), the KMRL wanted the commencement of service only after exterior and aesthetic works of 11 stations on the stretch were completed.

DMRC officials clarified that pending works would be over by May end.

Sources said that it intended to hold service trials after the CMRS inspects the corridor from May 3 to 5 and issues safety certificate. “A pool of pilots to man the seven trains have already undergone three-month training.”